YORK Tories and Liberal Democrats today said they may attempt to reverse swingeing increases in the cost of home help and other services to the elderly.

And they promised to explore the possibility of returning Dunnington and Elvington to the catchment area of Fulford School.

The opposition parties, who now hold the balance of power in City of York Council, may also attempt to introduce discretionary rate relief for rural shops - rejected by Labour at the council's last full meeting.

The Liberal Democrats will also try to secure the future of the Barbican and Yearsley swimming pools, threatened by Labour's leisure review.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway today said his group would be tabling a motion on home-care charges at the earliest opportunity - which is expected to be within three weeks.

He would not say what level of reduction his group would call for. "But we will be looking for a reduction this year and pegging the rates to inflation in future," he said.

Tory group leader John Galvin stressed his group could not give an outright commitment without being sure of the financial consequences.

"But we've got sympathy with elderly people. We are very sympathetic to looking very seriously at these charges and trying to reduce the financial burden on the most vulnerable people in society."

Bob Fletcher, Labour chairman of the council's social services committee, said the decision to increase charges had been "a difficult one" forced on it by the council's financial situation.

The schools pledge follows a long campaign fought by parents over a city-wide reorganisation of secondary school catchment areas.

The decision to put Elvington and Dunnington into the catchment area of Archbishop Holgate's CE School was passed by one vote from the Labour group.

Today Coun Galloway said his group would put forward a motion to reverse the decision.

And Coun Galvin said his group would support the proposal.

The news has been welcomed by parents, although officers said it would be difficult to implement before 2002 because of a national code of practice.

It could result in their having to look again at provision for children across the city.

Andrew Hansed, of Elvington, said: "We're obviously very pleased and we hope it will be successful.

"We are pleased the Liberal Democrats are keeping their word."

Between them, Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors now hold 27 of the 53 council seats - giving them enough votes to force through a rethink on charges.